1st Macro Photo post-Newbie needs advice!

This is my first post of a macro photo and I need to know where to go from here to improve.

Ir was taken with a Canon 550D(T1i) at f/16 with a Raynox DCR-250 attachment(on a Canon 70-300IS at 70mm) and with flash.It seems to be about 1:1 as far as I can tell.It was cropped,but not a lot.I feel like it's OK,but not nearly as sharp and detailed as many posts I see.

Would the next step be a dedicated macro lens,or can this setup improve much as my technique gets better.

Thanks! Fred

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Fred,
I use the DCR-250 on my S5 IS a lot and have found that it gives a shallow field of focus. I have read many post on this and found several recommendations to get the DCR-150 also. It has less magnification but a deeper field of focus they say. If it doubles that may be 2mm instead of 1mm or 4mm in stead of 2mm. Most of my shots on insects and not so tiny subjects could use the deeper field of focus. I tried stacking images but have not been pleased with the results from all the work. I just got a DCR-150 today to give a try. My DCR-250 still has it's place though, see my "Dew Drops" post.

Also try a little "PP" to sharpen things up a touch. I have come to use Picnik.com quite a bit to make up for my deficiencies. I haven't had any formal "PP" training and never could get much done using Photoshop type softwares. Picnik comes so much easier to me. You can do a lot for free but my wife gets me the premium subscription as a gift each year as she sees how much pleasure I get from it.
For the image above I would use the "auto-fix" then a little "exposure" adjustment followed by a small amount of "sharpen". Then my secret is to go to "Create" "Effects" "HDR-ish" and almost totally fade out the effect 95+%. Then go to "Advanced" and "Levels" and just slightly shift to the right to get:

Maybe I over-did it a bit, but you get the idea? You can do what I did above but not as much.
Joe

GAJoe wrote in post #10422494
Maybe I over-did it a bit, but you get the idea? You can do what I did above but not as much.
Joe

Thanks,Joe.Your dew drops post is really nice.

I actually tried the DCR-150,but get the same effect by using a shorter focal length with the DCR-250....i.e..It increases DOF as well,but at less magnification.So I have to crop more.I end up with similar results either way.

I did sharpen the image,but it looks like I needed a good bit more.Yours looks more contrasty and saturated,too.I think an image half-way between yours and mine would be good.

Thanks! Fred

Well... I can see that your subject is the insect with the flower background. I think the shot would have been much better if you took the shot and zoomed much more in the subject filling the frame.

To me, it appears as if the subject is the flower because of the multiple backgrounds.

Just my 2 cents. I have never tried doing a lot of macro shots, so I don't know a lot.

Here's a similar shot..... just look at how the subject fills the entire frame with only 1 background.

http://battlebunny.fil​es.wordpress.com/2009/​05/21.jpg

Shot looks good to me - especially for a first try.
slight shame the katydid (cricket) has it's face hidden in the flower.
Brian v.

frule wrote in post #10422566
Yours looks more contrasty and saturated,too.I think an image half-way between yours and mine would be good.

Yes I agree.
There

pinoyplaya wrote in post #10422627
Well... I can see that your subject is the insect with the flower background. I think the shot would have been much better if you took the shot and zoomed much more in the subject filling the frame.

I like the composition of the shot just as it is.

The shot looks good to me the way it is. Very nice shot.

GAJoe
Yep....that's better!

Brian v.
I had a few more where the insect was in a better position,but this was in better focus.Thanks.

Fred

For a first go you did well. I would read Brian's excellent post https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=807056 that will give you a lot of information.

In macro photography, a shallow depth of field is something you just have to live with - even with dedicated macro lens you dont get a lot of DOF.

In terms of composition I think showing the flower here works for this insect - macro doesnt just have to be about filling the frame, showing the insect in its surroundings works just as well. As Brian mentioned getting the eyes in focus (and in the shot ) is generally a must.

And with anything, practice makes perfect.

Stephen